Mediterranean Europe in Crisis: A Panel Discussion

The expression “Mediterranean Europe” simultaneously evokes unity in history, climate, the cultivation of olive and grapes, and diversity in politics, economics, and security concerns. Today, as the Euro crisis intersects with the continuous arrival of undocumented migrants and refugees on European shores, the contradiction between the unity and diversity of Mediterranean Europe may be more visible than ever. In this informal roundtable, scholars from different disciplines will address the current challenges that Mediterranean Europe faces, including political and social crises, youth unemployment, the rise of reactionary and racist organizations, and issues related to immigration and emigration. While the panelists will mainly address Greece, Italy, and Spain, the discussion will be relevant to the neighboring nations north and south of the Mediterranean.

This event is sponsored by the Trans-Atlantic Forum and the Center for the Humanities and is free and open to the public. A reception will follow.

Participants

• Mariagiovanna Baccara, PhD, is associate professor of economics at the Olin Business School at Washington University. Her research focuses on applied microeconomics, in particular on industrial organization, crime, matching, and social networks.
• Matt Gabel, PhD, (moderator) is professor and associate chair of political science at Washington University. He studies a variety of topics relevant to politics in democratic regimes. He has long-standing interest in public opinion and how elites shape mass attitudes.
• Mina Karavanta, PhD, is assistant professor of comparative literature, and cultural and postcolonial studies in the Faculty of English Studies of the School of Philosophy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. Dr. Karavanta is a Trans-Atlantic Forum Scholar-in-Residence at Washington University. (She also will give a lecture on “Living in the Interregnum: Democracy and Its Rogues” on March 31 and participate in “The State of Post-Colonial Studies” symposium on April 4.
• Javier Moscoso, PhD, is research professor of history and philosophy of science at the Institute of Philosophy of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in Madrid. He is the author of Pain: A Cultural History and is currently participating in an exchange program between Washington University’s Center for the Humanities and CSIC’s Center for Humanistic and Social Sciences (CCHS). He also will give a lecture on “The Moral Economy of Passions in the Early 19th Century” on April 8.
• John R. Bowen, PhD, is the Dunbar-Van Cleve Professor in Arts & Sciences and professor in anthropology. His research explores broad social transformations now taking place in the worldwide Muslim community, including a special emphasis on Muslim life in Indonesia.

This event is free and open to the public. If you have questions or need more information, please email tlinhard@wustl.edu